XIII 



PHYLUM CHORDATA 



391 



Bavaria, belonging to the Upper Jurassic period. The Bird (Fig. 

 996) was about the size of a Crow, and in both fossils not only 

 are the bones preserved, but also many of the feathers. 



The most striking feature in the organization of the Bird is the 

 fact that the tail is composed of about 18 20 free caudal vertebrae, 

 gradually tapering to the distal end as in a Lizard. The rectrices 

 are arranged in two rows, one on each side of the caudal vertebrae, 

 producing a long tail quite unlike that of any existing Bird. The 

 centra probably had flat faces. In addition to cervical and 

 thoracic ribs there were abdominal ribs, like those of Hatteria 

 and Crocodiles. 



The skull (Fig. 997) is proportionately large, with rounded brain - 

 case and strong jaws, in each of which is a series of conical teeth. 



FIG. 097. Archseopteryx lithographic a. The Skull, showing teeth and sclerotic plates. 

 (From Headley, after Dames.) 



There is no trace of sternum in either specimen, and the coracoids 

 (co.) are only partially visible : the scapulae (sc.) are slender, 

 curved bones, and there is a U-shaped furcula (cl.). 



FIG. 998. Archseopteryx lithographica. The left manus. c. carpal ; d. 1, first digit ; 

 ',n. 'ni. metacarpals ; /. radius ; u. ulna ; 2, second digit ; 3, third digit. (From Headley, after 

 Dames.) 



The bones of the upper and fore-arm are of the normal avian 

 character: only one carpal is certainly known (Fig. 998, c.): 

 it apparently belongs to the distal row, and is closely applied 



